Wrangling recipes from grandmas isn’t a pursuit for the thin-skinned. Ask for exact quantities, measurements, times… Basically everything you need for a recipe to work, and chances are, you’ll get a touch of this, a sprinkle of that, and a whole lot of furrowed brows, back talk, pity, groans, moans—all of the ingredients that’ll make …
The Ultimate Guide to Recording Grandmother Recipes Read More »
Why doesn’t the Lovers Handkerchief embroidery get old in Portugal? What’s so magical about these folkloric motifs, slapped on everything imaginable and sold in every airport, souvenir shop and roadside rest stop? It stirs the soul… Traditionally they were embroidered by the unabashed women of Minho as a declaration of their love to a desired …
Today, if you want to start a website called portuguesecooking.com — good luck! Ana Patuleia Ortins has owned it since 1997, just a year before Google was founded. For decades, Ana has been spreading the gospel about Portuguese food. Author of Portuguese Homestyle Cooking, she’s a pioneer in cookbooks written about Portuguese cuisine in America. …
New Portuguese Cookbook Brings Unexpected Recipes to the Table Read More »
Though it had been one of the rainiest and foggiest weeks I had ever spent in Portugal, on this particular day, the dreariness gave new meaning to the word “melancholy.” In no way was this suicidal ambiance any match for my mission to discover! I was booked for a trip to Viseu and absolutely nothing …
There’s a little slice of Lisbon’s vibrant food scene in New York City these days thanks to Michelin star Chef George Mendes. For anybody that’s been to Lisbon lately, you’ll instantly pick up on the similarities between the haute cuisine hotspots chefs like José Avillez have created in the recent past with his acclaimed Belcanto …
Michelin Chef Elevates Rustic Portuguese Cuisine in Manhattan Read More »
Housed in an 18th century baroque building, we leave behind the contrasting sleek interior of the bread and wine museum and step back onto the cobbled streets of the charming village of Favaios, where locals are taking respite from the intense July heat under red cafe umbrellas. We stroll towards the church as instructed and …
In this last installment of our three-part series on the undiscovered inland foods of Portugal (Part I & Part II), we pick apart the fruits that give the country some of its most luscious cherries and pears as well as premium olive oil. And though it’s one of the lesser-known wine regions of Portugal, there’s …
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part III Read More »
We’re back with Part II of our three-part series on the undiscovered food gems of inland Portugal (read Part 1). With a mix of goat, sheep and bovine herding, as well as hunting, meat dishes in the heartland region of Beira Baixa abound! Yet, there are also fertile rivers to dive into for fish and …
The Undiscovered Inland Foods of Portugal – Part II Read More »
The interior of Portugal is, unfortunately, often overlooked. That’s too bad, especially for foodies searching for unique eats beyond the mouthwatering fish and seafood on the coast and the regional dishes that the bustling cities recreate. Granted, I understand that driving into the mountains of Portugal or through windy, ancient villages isn’t as easy as …
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part I Read More »
One of the top culinary experiences in Portugal is hands down devouring Portuguese fish. Whether grilled, roasted, stewed or fried, Portugal’s coastal geography—half of this tiny country is on the Atlantic—has molded its people into sea life gurus (there are also river fish; we’ll explore another time). Pair this fish knowledge with the diversity of …
Essential Guide to Butterflying and Grilling Portuguese Fish Read More »
When most people order a meal at a restaurant, they’re satisfied with simply eating it. Not me. I have an overwhelming necessity to understand and intimately discuss the food in front of me. I long to linger around the restaurant, waiting for closing time so I can sneak into the kitchen and snuggle up to …
Editor’s note: With the March being recognized for stories about inspiring women (also known as Women’s History Month in the USA), we thought it would be fitting to honor the only female master blender existing today, Ana Rosas, of the renowned Ramos-Pinto port house. A woman that oozes with, grace, passion and the warmest of …
Women’s History Month: Exploring the Maternal Side of Winemaking Read More »
Growing up, Portuguese kid stew was as ordinary to me as beef stew was to my American friends. Whenever there were mentions of “cabrito,” my smile lit up! Around this time of year, my younger self would be jumping for joy around my mother’s kitchen, since this was often the meal of choice for Easter. …
Cabrito Estonado: The Easter Recipe Hidden in the Portuguese Mountains Read More »
From fried snakes on a stick to dirty water hot dogs, there hadn’t been anything novel to buzz about in the street food scene for years. That is, until five years ago when the gourmet food truck craze exploded in Los Angeles. Professional chefs jumped behind the wheel and turned that city’s down economy in …
Though there’s every reason to tout the Mediterranean traits of the Portuguese diet, let’s be real, there’s also plenty of fried and fatty goodness to gorge on. On my latest trip to Portugal, I checked off a few savory and sweet items that had been on my long list of treats to taste. On this …
